Manufacturing method for variable resistive element

A manufacturing method for a variable resistive element comprising a variable resistor comprising a variable resistor material provided between a first electrode comprising a first electrode material and a second electrode comprising a second electrode material, the electrical resistance of the variable resistor being variable between a low resistance value and a high resistance value by applying a voltage pulse between the first electrode and the second electrode, said method comprising:

• carrying out a reduction process on the variable resistor so that the electrical resistance of the variable resistor is increased;
• wherein
• carrying out the reduction process comprises carrying out a heat treatment at low temperatures never exceeding 350° C. in a reduction atmosphere including hydrogen, and
• carrying out the heat treatment comprises providing a material operating as a hydrogen catalyst, and
• the variable resistor comprises an oxide having a perovskite structure which is represented by any one of the following general formulas:
• Pr1-XCaX[Mn1-ZMZ]O3, wherein M is any element selected from Ta, Ti, Cu, Cr, Co, Fe, Ni and Ga,
• La1-XAEXMnO3, wherein AE is any bivalent alkaline earth metal selected from Ca, Sr, Pb and Ba,
• RE1-XSrXMnO3, wherein RE is any trivalent rare earth element selected from Sm, La, Pr, Nd, Gd and Dy,
• La1-XCoX[Mn1-ZCoZ]O3,
• Gd1-XCaXMnO3, and
• Nd1-XGdXMnO3, wherein 0<X<1, 0≦Z<1.